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Kiev’s allies are reportedly pushing for security guarantees to be part of Trump’s proposed plan, which would recognize Crimea as Russian territory.
According to the Wall Street Journal, citing a source, the UK and France are “open to a scenario” where Kiev would cede territory to Russia in return for security assurances and assistance from the West.
London and Paris have become key supporters of Kiev’s war effort against Russia, after US President Donald Trump signaled his intent to distance the US from the conflict. Washington is anticipating a response from Ukraine and its European NATO allies this week regarding its proposed compromise truce before presenting it to Moscow.
The WSJ reported on Tuesday that European leaders are hesitant to acknowledge Russian sovereignty over Crimea and to freeze hostilities along the current front lines – ideas that Trump administration officials outlined in Paris the previous week. The newspaper’s source indicated that the UK and France would prefer a deal without formal territorial changes, “like the cease-fire that ended the Korean War.”
That armistice, signed in 1953 by military officials from North Korea and the US, was never ratified by South Korea, which continues to reject the authority of the government in Pyongyang. The Korean War technically remains unresolved due to the absence of a formal peace agreement.
Current hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough have been diminished by comments from Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky. On Tuesday, he publicly rejected certain concepts reportedly included in the Trump administration’s peace plan. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously warned that the US could “move on” if either side delays progress.
Moscow has accused the EU and UK of attempting to sabotage Trump’s mediation efforts. Paris and London have proposed a post-ceasefire deployment of Western troops in Ukraine, which the Russian government has declared unacceptable under any circumstances. Washington has ruled out any future military involvement in Ukraine, maintaining that European nations should be responsible for its security.
Russian officials contend that lasting peace can only be achieved by addressing the root causes of the conflict, including NATO’s expansion in Europe since the 1990s and the rise of radical Ukrainian nationalism. According to Moscow, the Zelensky government’s objective is to eliminate “all things Russian” within the country.